*note: I will not be hosting any files or links to the files for this softmod. If you do not have access to the files, you can perform a Google search or look on the following web site: http://www.xbox-scene.com/The Microsoft Xbox 360 has proven to be an excellent gaming console. Almost everyone I know that is in to gaming has one. But what about the original Xbox? You may have one at home collecting dust, or if you go to your local used game store, you may find that they have stacks of old Xbox systems piled up in the back of the store. The demand is just not that high for this aging console anymore. Which is exactly why it it the perfect time for you to get one and mod it. You may ask: "What can a softmodded Xbox do for me?" Well, I'll tell you... It is a very comprehensive media center computer, it will play your backed up games from disk or the hard drive, play ROMs from older gaming systems, you can install apps and scripts like the iTunes streaming radio script, it will play or stream about any video format (with XBMC) and you can even install a Linux distribution (XDSL) and use it as a computer. Ok, so now you want to know how to do it... You can use your old console, or pick a used one up for about $50 at a used game store like GameStop. There are several other requirements before you get started. The softmod is accomplished by loading a hacked game save from one of several games. In this example, I will be using the original Splinter Cell game. You will also need the hacked game save and a way to transfer it to the Xbox memory card. I use AR Max for Xbox to transfer the game save to the memory card. Once the save is on the memory card, you will need to transfer it to the Xbox hard drive and make sure to delete any pre-existing Splinter Cell game saves. Once the files are copied, you launch the game and load the hacked game save. It will bring you to the alternate dashboard which will give you several options. This is where things can vary depending on your intentions. Personally, I like to use the alternate dashboard to allow me FTP access to the Xbox. I will then copy the file system from the Xbox hard drive to my computer and use a program called Xbox HDM (Xbox Hard Drive Maker) to make an image of the hard drive. I will then boot a computer from this disk and use it to image a new IDE hard drive with a greater capacity than the original allowing more room for game, video and music storage as well as allowing me to keep my old hard drive un-modded as a backup. I will then remove the old hard drive from the Xbox and replace it with my new hard drive. At this point, the Xbox should boot back up like it normally would and we will have to launch the game again and load the hacked game save. Now, we can finish the mod following the steps in the alternate dashboard. You can mod the Xbox without adding a larger hard drive but you will not have much space on the original hard drive to store games or movies and you will not . After the softmod is complete, you can add applications, games, scripts and videos by pasting them in the corresponding folders via FTP. One application I would highly recommend is XBMC or Xbox Media Center. This app can act as a dashboard allowing you to launch other apps, scripts and games. You can also use it to stream video from a NAS (Network attached storage) or a shared hard drive / folder on your computer. Overall, this turns out to be a well rounded media center computer that can be made easily from your old Xbox. I have successfully performed this softmod on many Xboxes and have never run into any trouble. Give it a shot and breathe new life into your old Xbox gaming system.
I know this is not a completely in depth guide, it is more of an introduction to the capabilities of a modded Xbox. I will go into further detail in a later post and include the full instructions.
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